FREE Job Search Webinar Blog Coverage: I have a killer resume now what? Tips on being your Headhunter

Webinar Presenter - Paul DeBettignies, managing partner, Nerd Search and blogger at MNHeadHunter.com

The presentation itself is very laid back as that's Pauls style. He warns that he uses the words “dude” and “sucks” a lot. I'll try to keep a tally going here.

Tally Results are surprising:

"Dude" = 1
"Suxs" = 5

_____________________________________

Remember: Unemployment and the job market are local things. So keep a bit of a perspective on it.

Do's and Dont's

• Do - keep a routine
• Do - assume every company is hiring, until you know otherwise
• Do - assume advertising one position may be a sign of other open jobs
• Don't - assume Company career pages are always current
• Don't - get caught in "analysis Paralysis" - don't just be "planning your job search.

If you Don't remember anything else, remember this:

- Doing a job Search sucks
- Finding a job is a job, not a hobby

Who Are You? Tell people why people they should hire you.

• 10-second pitch
• 30-second elevator pitch
• Make business cards (important for networking events)
• Fill out your LinkedIn profile (networking is give and take)
• Professional email address (ruupforit@yahoo.com - is bad!)

Keep in Mind - Your job search is all about marketing YOU! Saying who you are and what you can bring to the table. How are you different than the other 150 people that are applying? Sometimes you may have to do things that are uncomfortable for you. Be aware of the image your putting out

People hire People

• Who ask questions - seek advice not help
• Who reach out - who do you know?
• Who appear resourceful - Start at the top

Paul says "recruiters are their to weed people out, there not always to help people get into a position"

Online network groups are a great resource for reconnecting and finding jobs. Start slow and build you relationship.

• LinkedIn has 30M users
• Facebook has 150M users (average age is 25, it's not for the kids)
• Twitter - 124 characters only, Find out what conversations are taking place
• Ning Groups

Where Should I look for a Job?

• Big Job Boards (Monster, Career Builder)
• Niche and local job boards (Craigslist)
• Newspapers (Try going where everyone else isn't)
• Trade & professional Association web sites
• Aggregators (indeed, Simply Hired, LinkUp)

What do I know About them?

Research your potential employers using....

• Google, Yahoo, Hoovers
• Local newspapers
• Press Releases
• Business magazines

Your mission is to find information you can use in emails and phone calls, show them that you have invested time and interest in their organization.

Zero in on Your target

• Find a contact name
• Target hiring managers, senior management and recruiters
• call during breakfast, lunch, dinner as gatekeepers are not around
• Google names, industry terms and titles
• Have a name but not an email address? Check their press release page and find out their email address format (firstname.lastname@company.com

When Making an Email Contact

• Focus needs to be on what you can do for the company
• Send resume as a word attachment
• Name your resume attachment as Smith.doc rather resume.com
• Check your email twice a day, You don't want to miss an opportunity
• Grammar, spell-check every email.
• Include your name, phone number, email address and LinkedIn URL in the footer

Don't be Afraid of the Phone

• Rehearse your call, create a script if you need one but don't read it
• Have a primary and secondary objective
• Use industry buzzwords
• Never use the word "Entry Level" - makes it sound as if you're "inexperienced" or "cheap"

Maintain Contact & Follow-up

• Be polite and persistent, not pushy (follow-up in 3-5 days)
• Keep the call/email brief and to the point
• Is more information needed
• Thank you card, letter, email or phone message
• Keep a copy of the resume you sent near the phone so you can reference it. Tape it on the wall next to the phone so you can answer questions asked about your resume.

Dead End & Getting Desperate

• Offer to do an internship (allows both you and the employer the ability to test each other out)
• Volunteer with a non-profit or other community organization
• Shadow for a day
• Are you addressing the need of the employers? Don't send an email asking what you're looking for. Right now "your needs" are considered deal breakers.
• Take a part time or consulting gig
• If not now, when can you contact again?

Thanks to JobDig for providing Paul their office space to do this webinar.

That's all Folks!