Retiring From Retirement: Social Media Rules of Engagement

A Growing Trend

Over the past several years, more and more retirees are re-entering the workforce. Some are getting part-time jobs while others are attempting to get back into the field the left upon retiring. Boy how things have changes, and quickly too! Social media is now a major player in the job search and hiring process.

What Is Social Media?

Social media simply refers to online platforms that bring folks together on a wide range of issues. Some of the most popular social media sites include Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Google+. However, there are hundreds more. But for the purposes of this discussion, let's stick to the main social media players.

Are There Really Rules?

No. Social media sites don't have "formal" rules that job seekers must follow. However, etiquette is important and following certain principles can make your time spent in the social world much more productive. A few key principles to keep in mind in the social media realm include:

Don't get carries away by the hypeJust like your real-life network, it's quality that trumps quantityConsider the Golden Rule: do unto others...People join these forums to connect with others, so don't be shyDon't go into the process solely focused on what you can get out of it

What's the Point?

OK. So we have listed out some of the "rules" when using social media sites. One of the rules was to not focus on what you can get out of it. Really? Then what is the point? Well, it's simple. You're looking to engage with your audience in an area of common interest.

I'll offer an example of this in action with LinkedIn. If you were a manage of software engineers upon retirement and you'd like to get back into a similar role, how do you get started? On LinkedIn, you can join Groups, of which there are thousands. You'll want to search on groups that match your interest in software development. Once you join, you'll have an opportunity to connect with many others involved in or interested in the software development field. LinkedIn allows you to contact the person directly if you're part of the same LinkedIn Group. You can also post content that can be viewed by everyone in the Group. Again, when you follow the principles, you'll know not to post something like "Back in the game and looking for a software development leader position." No! You'll start out by "listening" to what others in the Group are saying and attempting to engage them directly. Once something is established, you can identify if an opportunity exists.

Resume Tips for Re-Entering the Workforce

For those trying to return to their former glory, check out the first article in this series regarding resume tips specifically for rejoining the workforce.

Stephen is the ITtechExec, a "Go To" Personal Branding Strategist for IT, engineering, manufacturing, telecommunications, call center, medical device, and other STEM/technical specialty professionals. By translating technical activities and leadership achievements into a clear, consistent message that's meaningful to business executives and recruiters, Stephen generates at least a 5x return on investment on job seeker resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, bios, and other online platforms. The ITtechExec offers a proprietary job search lifecycle management approach to guide technical candidates through brand strategy development, documentation, interviewing preparation, job search strategy development, and online brand management. Contact Stephen today at (866) 755-9800, http://www.ittechexec.com/, or stephen@ittechexec.com.

Read more ...

Retiring From Retirement: Social Media Rules of Engagement

A Growing Trend

Over the past several years, more and more retirees are re-entering the workforce. Some are getting part-time jobs while others are attempting to get back into the field the left upon retiring. Boy how things have changes, and quickly too! Social media is now a major player in the job search and hiring process.

What Is Social Media?

Social media simply refers to online platforms that bring folks together on a wide range of issues. Some of the most popular social media sites include Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Google+. However, there are hundreds more. But for the purposes of this discussion, let's stick to the main social media players.

Are There Really Rules?

No. Social media sites don't have "formal" rules that job seekers must follow. However, etiquette is important and following certain principles can make your time spent in the social world much more productive. A few key principles to keep in mind in the social media realm include:

Don't get carries away by the hypeJust like your real-life network, it's quality that trumps quantityConsider the Golden Rule: do unto others...People join these forums to connect with others, so don't be shyDon't go into the process solely focused on what you can get out of it

What's the Point?

OK. So we have listed out some of the "rules" when using social media sites. One of the rules was to not focus on what you can get out of it. Really? Then what is the point? Well, it's simple. You're looking to engage with your audience in an area of common interest.

I'll offer an example of this in action with LinkedIn. If you were a manage of software engineers upon retirement and you'd like to get back into a similar role, how do you get started? On LinkedIn, you can join Groups, of which there are thousands. You'll want to search on groups that match your interest in software development. Once you join, you'll have an opportunity to connect with many others involved in or interested in the software development field. LinkedIn allows you to contact the person directly if you're part of the same LinkedIn Group. You can also post content that can be viewed by everyone in the Group. Again, when you follow the principles, you'll know not to post something like "Back in the game and looking for a software development leader position." No! You'll start out by "listening" to what others in the Group are saying and attempting to engage them directly. Once something is established, you can identify if an opportunity exists.

Resume Tips for Re-Entering the Workforce

For those trying to return to their former glory, check out the first article in this series regarding resume tips specifically for rejoining the workforce.

Stephen is the ITtechExec, a "Go To" Personal Branding Strategist for IT, engineering, manufacturing, telecommunications, call center, medical device, and other STEM/technical specialty professionals. By translating technical activities and leadership achievements into a clear, consistent message that's meaningful to business executives and recruiters, Stephen generates at least a 5x return on investment on job seeker resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, bios, and other online platforms. The ITtechExec offers a proprietary job search lifecycle management approach to guide technical candidates through brand strategy development, documentation, interviewing preparation, job search strategy development, and online brand management. Contact Stephen today at (866) 755-9800, http://www.ittechexec.com/, or stephen@ittechexec.com.

Read more ...

How To Write a CV for New Media Jobs

A properly written new media jobs resume might not guarantee you your dream role but it will increase the chances of you being invited to an interview.

Employers will have to sift through numerous applications so it is vital that you eliminate any errors which could result in your CV being sent to the bottom of the rubbish bin.

The first thing that stands out to an employer is the length of a resume so remember to condense your writing to ensure that no extraneous information makes it onto the CV because it will only detract from your achievements.

Always try to keep your resume to a maximum of two pages and although this might sound difficult to some, one handy hint is to pretend that each word will cost you £100 which should encourage you to keep it short and sweet.

If you are not the best speller and are occasionally prone to mistakes, it is advisable to have someone proofread what you have written before you submit your application because there is nothing worse on a CV than basic grammatical errors.

Selecting the most appropriate format is also important and the easiest way to achieve this is by choosing a chronological configuration which lists your job history in date order starting with the most recent and working back.

If you have been unemployed for a significant amount of time or are looking to change careers and enter the new media jobs industry, then you may want to choose a functional format.

One way to grab the attention of an employer is to make an impact on the top half of your CV because most recruiters will simply scan a document so ensuring you have the most relevant information high up on a page will give you an edge.

Any relevant qualifications to the position should be located in a conspicuous place such as the front page but conventional certifications like GCSE's are best put under an educational achievements section.

If you have any associational affiliations that are related to the position you are applying for, then you should also include this on your resume as this will demonstrate extra experience.

Although all these tips are vital to writing a winning resume, the one thing that you must never forget is to tell the truth at all times because if you misrepresent yourself, you will eventually be found out.

Use this advise to refine your resume and you will have the best possible chance of landing one of those new media jobs you have been searching for.

New media jobs are available at top recruitment firm Carreras Lathane Associates (CLA). The new CLA site was created by web design London agency PureBlue.

Read more ...

Perfecting Your CV for New Media Jobs

Creating a curriculum vitae (CV) for new media jobs in sales can be a very time intensive so it is important not to waste the effort with errors.

CVs which contain multiple mistakes are often consigned to the bin without any further consideration as employers will use any excuse to whittle down the number of potential candidates for a position.

An advertisement for new media jobs is likely to solicit a response from a significant number of candidates and going through these applications is a time consuming process which many employers dread.

In order to find an appropriate applicant, CVs which include even the smallest of slips will be binned as an employer will not have the patience to entertain an application from someone who cannot even create an error-free resume.

There are many actions to take to ensure that your CV gets past the initial phase of any application for new media jobs, which is the first step towards gaining the employment position of your dreams. Once you have completed the first draft of your resume, you should allow a friend or family member to take a look at it as a fresh pair of eyes should be able to pick up on any potential mistakes.

Print out your CV as it is often easier to spot errors if they appear on a page rather than a computer screen because tangible copy is easier to read compared to the glare of a monitor.

If you are satisfied that your friend or family member has done their best checking your CV you may want to employ the services of someone with professional proofreading experience.

People with proofreading or subediting experience get paid to discover errors for a living so they will be best placed to examine your resume for all types of mistake no matter how big or small.

If hiring proofreaders or subeditors proves expensive then you may benefit from sending your CV to a recruitment agency as they will have years of experience of dealing with all kinds of resumes.

Those looking for new media jobs should select a recruitment company who specialise in the specific industry as they will know how to tailor your CV to a position in that sector.

You may be concerned that going to these lengths to check you CV will cost you valuable time but remember that badly created and prepared resumes will not land you a new job they will just land in the bin.

New media jobs are available at Carreras Lathane Associates (CLA). The new CLA site was created by web design London agency PureBlue.

Read more ...

Perfecting Your CV for New Media Jobs

Creating a curriculum vitae (CV) for new media jobs in sales can be a very time intensive so it is important not to waste the effort with errors.

CVs which contain multiple mistakes are often consigned to the bin without any further consideration as employers will use any excuse to whittle down the number of potential candidates for a position.

An advertisement for new media jobs is likely to solicit a response from a significant number of candidates and going through these applications is a time consuming process which many employers dread.

In order to find an appropriate applicant, CVs which include even the smallest of slips will be binned as an employer will not have the patience to entertain an application from someone who cannot even create an error-free resume.

There are many actions to take to ensure that your CV gets past the initial phase of any application for new media jobs, which is the first step towards gaining the employment position of your dreams. Once you have completed the first draft of your resume, you should allow a friend or family member to take a look at it as a fresh pair of eyes should be able to pick up on any potential mistakes.

Print out your CV as it is often easier to spot errors if they appear on a page rather than a computer screen because tangible copy is easier to read compared to the glare of a monitor.

If you are satisfied that your friend or family member has done their best checking your CV you may want to employ the services of someone with professional proofreading experience.

People with proofreading or subediting experience get paid to discover errors for a living so they will be best placed to examine your resume for all types of mistake no matter how big or small.

If hiring proofreaders or subeditors proves expensive then you may benefit from sending your CV to a recruitment agency as they will have years of experience of dealing with all kinds of resumes.

Those looking for new media jobs should select a recruitment company who specialise in the specific industry as they will know how to tailor your CV to a position in that sector.

You may be concerned that going to these lengths to check you CV will cost you valuable time but remember that badly created and prepared resumes will not land you a new job they will just land in the bin.

Read more ...

How To Write a CV for New Media Jobs

A properly written new media jobs resume might not guarantee you your dream role but it will increase the chances of you being invited to an interview.

Employers will have to sift through numerous applications so it is vital that you eliminate any errors which could result in your CV being sent to the bottom of the rubbish bin.

The first thing that stands out to an employer is the length of a resume so remember to condense your writing to ensure that no extraneous information makes it onto the CV because it will only detract from your achievements.

Always try to keep your resume to a maximum of two pages and although this might sound difficult to some, one handy hint is to pretend that each word will cost you £100 which should encourage you to keep it short and sweet.

If you are not the best speller and are occasionally prone to mistakes, it is advisable to have someone proofread what you have written before you submit your application because there is nothing worse on a CV than basic grammatical errors.

Selecting the most appropriate format is also important and the easiest way to achieve this is by choosing a chronological configuration which lists your job history in date order starting with the most recent and working back.

If you have been unemployed for a significant amount of time or are looking to change careers and enter the new media jobs industry, then you may want to choose a functional format.

One way to grab the attention of an employer is to make an impact on the top half of your CV because most recruiters will simply scan a document so ensuring you have the most relevant information high up on a page will give you an edge.

Any relevant qualifications to the position should be located in a conspicuous place such as the front page but conventional certifications like GCSE's are best put under an educational achievements section.

If you have any associational affiliations that are related to the position you are applying for, then you should also include this on your resume as this will demonstrate extra experience.

Although all these tips are vital to writing a winning resume, the one thing that you must never forget is to tell the truth at all times because if you misrepresent yourself, you will eventually be found out.

Use this advise to refine your resume and you will have the best possible chance of landing one of those new media jobs you have been searching for.

New media jobs are available at top recruitment firm Carreras Lathane Associates (CLA). The new CLA site was created by web design London agency PureBlue.

Read more ...

How To Write a CV for New Media Jobs

A properly written new media jobs resume might not guarantee you your dream role but it will increase the chances of you being invited to an interview.

Employers will have to sift through numerous applications so it is vital that you eliminate any errors which could result in your CV being sent to the bottom of the rubbish bin.

The first thing that stands out to an employer is the length of a resume so remember to condense your writing to ensure that no extraneous information makes it onto the CV because it will only detract from your achievements.

Always try to keep your resume to a maximum of two pages and although this might sound difficult to some, one handy hint is to pretend that each word will cost you £100 which should encourage you to keep it short and sweet.

If you are not the best speller and are occasionally prone to mistakes, it is advisable to have someone proofread what you have written before you submit your application because there is nothing worse on a CV than basic grammatical errors.

Selecting the most appropriate format is also important and the easiest way to achieve this is by choosing a chronological configuration which lists your job history in date order starting with the most recent and working back.

If you have been unemployed for a significant amount of time or are looking to change careers and enter the new media jobs industry, then you may want to choose a functional format.

One way to grab the attention of an employer is to make an impact on the top half of your CV because most recruiters will simply scan a document so ensuring you have the most relevant information high up on a page will give you an edge.

Any relevant qualifications to the position should be located in a conspicuous place such as the front page but conventional certifications like GCSE's are best put under an educational achievements section.

If you have any associational affiliations that are related to the position you are applying for, then you should also include this on your resume as this will demonstrate extra experience.

Although all these tips are vital to writing a winning resume, the one thing that you must never forget is to tell the truth at all times because if you misrepresent yourself, you will eventually be found out.

Use this advise to refine your resume and you will have the best possible chance of landing one of those new media jobs you have been searching for.

New media jobs are available at top recruitment firm Carreras Lathane Associates (CLA). The new CLA site was created by web design London agency PureBlue.

Read more ...

Perfecting Your CV for New Media Jobs

Creating a curriculum vitae (CV) for new media jobs in sales can be a very time intensive so it is important not to waste the effort with errors.

CVs which contain multiple mistakes are often consigned to the bin without any further consideration as employers will use any excuse to whittle down the number of potential candidates for a position.

An advertisement for new media jobs is likely to solicit a response from a significant number of candidates and going through these applications is a time consuming process which many employers dread.

In order to find an appropriate applicant, CVs which include even the smallest of slips will be binned as an employer will not have the patience to entertain an application from someone who cannot even create an error-free resume.

There are many actions to take to ensure that your CV gets past the initial phase of any application for new media jobs, which is the first step towards gaining the employment position of your dreams. Once you have completed the first draft of your resume, you should allow a friend or family member to take a look at it as a fresh pair of eyes should be able to pick up on any potential mistakes.

Print out your CV as it is often easier to spot errors if they appear on a page rather than a computer screen because tangible copy is easier to read compared to the glare of a monitor.

If you are satisfied that your friend or family member has done their best checking your CV you may want to employ the services of someone with professional proofreading experience.

People with proofreading or subediting experience get paid to discover errors for a living so they will be best placed to examine your resume for all types of mistake no matter how big or small.

If hiring proofreaders or subeditors proves expensive then you may benefit from sending your CV to a recruitment agency as they will have years of experience of dealing with all kinds of resumes.

Those looking for new media jobs should select a recruitment company who specialise in the specific industry as they will know how to tailor your CV to a position in that sector.

You may be concerned that going to these lengths to check you CV will cost you valuable time but remember that badly created and prepared resumes will not land you a new job they will just land in the bin.

New media jobs are available at Carreras Lathane Associates (CLA). The new CLA site was created by web design London agency PureBlue.

Read more ...

Perfecting Your CV for New Media Jobs

Creating a curriculum vitae (CV) for new media jobs in sales can be a very time intensive so it is important not to waste the effort with errors.

CVs which contain multiple mistakes are often consigned to the bin without any further consideration as employers will use any excuse to whittle down the number of potential candidates for a position.

An advertisement for new media jobs is likely to solicit a response from a significant number of candidates and going through these applications is a time consuming process which many employers dread.

In order to find an appropriate applicant, CVs which include even the smallest of slips will be binned as an employer will not have the patience to entertain an application from someone who cannot even create an error-free resume.

There are many actions to take to ensure that your CV gets past the initial phase of any application for new media jobs, which is the first step towards gaining the employment position of your dreams. Once you have completed the first draft of your resume, you should allow a friend or family member to take a look at it as a fresh pair of eyes should be able to pick up on any potential mistakes.

Print out your CV as it is often easier to spot errors if they appear on a page rather than a computer screen because tangible copy is easier to read compared to the glare of a monitor.

If you are satisfied that your friend or family member has done their best checking your CV you may want to employ the services of someone with professional proofreading experience.

People with proofreading or subediting experience get paid to discover errors for a living so they will be best placed to examine your resume for all types of mistake no matter how big or small.

If hiring proofreaders or subeditors proves expensive then you may benefit from sending your CV to a recruitment agency as they will have years of experience of dealing with all kinds of resumes.

Those looking for new media jobs should select a recruitment company who specialise in the specific industry as they will know how to tailor your CV to a position in that sector.

You may be concerned that going to these lengths to check you CV will cost you valuable time but remember that badly created and prepared resumes will not land you a new job they will just land in the bin.

New media jobs are available at Carreras Lathane Associates (CLA). The new CLA site was created by web design London agency PureBlue.

Read more ...

The Social Media Resume and Keywords

Keywords and Optimizing Are King

Researching and placing select keywords is vital in ensuring that your paper resume rises to the surface. Media resumes are no different. Here again, it's about creating exposure for you and your background.

Part of this depends on how you structure your social media resume. You might make it a standalone single page like your traditional resume, or you could break it into specific sections (skills, certifications, references, achievements, markets worked in, products sold).

Breaking it into different sections can allow you to target and optimize specific keywords around related content for each page. Conceptually, this is very similar to optimizing individual websites and pages in order to drive traffic and rank high in search engines.

What does optimizing do? When done properly, this type of targeting can help these separate pages rank higher up on search engines when someone searches for you and specific keywords. This can help more employers and recruiters find you, resulting in more potential job opportunities. Try using two to three related keywords per page and its related topic.

Thus, if you have a single-page social media resume, you'll be limited to using just two or three keywords. Also, they'll likely have to be of a more general, broad nature. This can make optimization-and thus visits from interested parties-more challenging.

Make Your Social Media Resume Easy to Share

You have little to no control over which specific people visit your social media resume. However, if they're looking for your skills and have potential interest in hiring you-even if they are only influencers in the hiring process-you want to make it easy for them to spread the good word about you by sending your resume along.

That's right: It's about further improving your odds. Doing all the little extra can add up to a bigger competitive advantage for you:
Set up reciprocal links to and from various social media vehicles and tools.Put a small form on your social media resume that allows people to email/forward your resume to interested parties.Get the URL of your social media resume listed on as many networking sites as you can manage. Interest in your skills and experience can come from anywhere. Sometimes leads come from downright obscure and implausible places. Don't knock anything until you give it a try.

Don't Ignore the Stats

The cool thing with web pages-and having your own URL is one of those-means you can capture all sorts of neat information in the form of statistics you can use to your benefit in your search activities.

You can then use this info to help refine your online marketing activities. Are the right people looking for you and finding you? Are the keywords you are optimizing having the desired impact? Are your tactics helping improve your online visibility? The stats will give you plenty of insight here.

The fancy name for this is "website/page analytics." Basically, this mean using a simple statistical package that often comes with web-hosting services to allow you to find out the answers to the aforementioned questions along with other interesting tidbits of information:
Number of visitors who come to your social media resumeWhat pages your social media resume links to and what pages are linking back to itKeywords used to find your social media resume

Web analytics can be complex. But if this is an area that interests you, doing more targeted keyword searching on the topic can help you find educate yourself about it.

Sherrie A. Madia, Ph.D. is an educator, author, and trainer. Her most recent books include The Social Media Survival Guide (Also available in Spanish), The Online Job Search Survival Guide, and S.E.R.I.A.L.PRENEURSHIP: The Secrets of Repeatable Business Success. She is frequently cited by the national media as an expert in social media. She is Director of Communications, External Affairs, and a Lecturer at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

To schedule an individual consultation or group workshop on online job-search, visit http://www.onlinejobsearchbook.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sherrie_Madia

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Top 3 Tips for Social Media Resume Design

By Sherrie Madia Sherrie Madia
Level: Platinum

Sherrie A. Madia, Ph.D. is an educator, author, and communications trainer. She is frequently cited by the national media as an expert in social media. ...

Chances are you will have only have one opportunity to make a first impression in job search. With a social media resume, you're trying to impress many people, so it's crucial to follow key design and layout principles to ensure your first impression gets it right.

Graphic artists, web designers, interior designers, clothes designers, and landscapers all deal with design concepts, colors, and layouts, so those professionals have it relatively easy. Professionals who are less astute in these areas may have the best of intentions when it comes to resume design....but their efforts don't always come off well.

Below are the top three tips for creating an effective social media resume:

1. Make It Easy to Read

Use a sans serif typeface/font like this one in a 10 or 12 point font. It's far easier to scan through than a serif typeface.Use a solid, lighter color background (no deep purple background with white type, no bright green or screaming orange backgrounds)Black type color-this copies best if your resume is printed and passed around.Use a color wheel to help you look at and choose the most readable, and easy-on-the-eye color combination.Keep graphics small and to a minimum. No distracting background images or wallpaper.Avoid animation, unless you're in a unique field (e.g., video game programmer) where this would be an asset as opposed to a. distraction. Even then less is more. You can always show off your portfolio/creations in separate attached links or files for those who want to see more of your work.Make it easy to 'navigate' and find different 'parts' of your social media resume. Try to use the three-click rule: If someone has to use more than three clicks to get from the main page to where they want to go, that's too many (too frustrating and time-consuming). Make it EASY and FAST for the viewer to get around.

2. Use a Clean, Simple Layout

Don't get too fancy or complex.Use "bullets" like this, textual bolding, italicizing, and section headings appropriately. Make it easy on the eyes and easy to follow.Remember to keep it simple

3. Use Consistent Formatting

Keep your font style the same throughout for easy reading/scanning.Use selective bolding, italicizing, underlining where appropriate and with the same areas (e.g., like these section headings-bold and italicized to set the off, or introduce a new thought)

A clean, simple design, layout and formatted social media resume-just like with your paper resume-are far more preferred by recruiters and HR staffers than something really fancy. Remember, they're concerned with finding the right skills for a certain job. They could care less about the coolest Flash-enabled animation you put together, and it makes their job tougher. That's NOT how you want to impress. Know your audience and design accordingly for job search success.

Sherrie A. Madia, Ph.D. is an educator, author, and trainer. Her most recent books include The Social Media Survival Guide (Also available in Spanish), The Online Job Search Survival Guide, and S.E.R.I.A.L.PRENEURSHIP: The Secrets of Repeatable Business Success. She is frequently cited by the national media as an expert in social media. She is Director of Communications, External Affairs, and a Lecturer at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

To schedule an individual consultation or group workshop on online job-search, visit http://www.onlinejobsearchbook.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sherrie_Madia

This article has been viewed 31 time(s).
Article Submitted On: January 02, 2011

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